Device for clamping printing-plates to the cylinders of printing-presses.



T. R. G. PARKER & W. LEE. DEVICE FOR CLAMPING PRINTING PLATES TO THECYLINDERS 0F PRINTING PRESSES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-I8. I915- Patented Oct. 26, 1915.

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" TTE @TATFd PATENT FFTT].

THOMAS ROBERT GILLETT PARKER- AND WALTER LEE, 0F BROADHEATI-I, ENGLAND,ASSIGNORS TO LINOTYPE AND MACHINERY LIMITED, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

DEVICE FOR CLAMPING PRINTING-PLATES TG THE OYLTNDERS OF PRINTING-PRESSES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

I Patented Oct. 26, 1915.

Application filed August 18, 1915. Serial No. 48,212.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS Bonner GILLETT PARKER and WVALTER LEE,subjects of the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,and residing at Linotype and Machinery orks, Broadheath, in the countyof Chester, England, have invented new and useful Improvements inDevices for Clamping Printing-Plates to the Cylinders ofPrinting-Presses, of which the following is a specification. V

This invention relates to devices for clamping printing or stereotypeplates to the plate cylinders of printing presses, and it has for itsobject to provide a new or improved mechanism whereby a plurality ofplate-clamping dogs can be simultaneously engaged with, or releasedfrom, the printing plates on the said cylinders.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accom van indrawin s in which Figure 1 is an end elevation of one half of a platecylinder with the improved devices applied thereto, Fig.2 .is alongitudinal vertical section taken substantially on the line 22 of F 1,as viewed from the right-hand. side of that figure, and show-- ing apart of one of the side frames of the press; Fig. 3 is an elevation ofthe inner end of one of the dogs, and Fig. 4: is a transverse section onthe line 4-4 of Fig. 2 of one of the rods.

The clamping dogs 1, 2, 3, which, in the example illustrated, are threein number for each plate 1, are movable each along a groove 5, extendinglongitudinally of the plate cylinder 6, in the ordinary well-knownmanner. Each of the dogs 1, 2, 3, as shown best in Fig. 3, is formedwith a hole 7 ea tending therethrough in a direction parallel with theaxis of the plate cylinder 6, and through this hole passes a rod 8, 9 or10 respectively, provided with a series of projections or abutments, 11,12, corresponding in number to the numbero f difierent columnar widthsof plates 1, which the device is designed to deal with. Each of thejustnamed ahutments is capable of engaging wi h the outer side of therespective dogl,

open bearings 13 formed in the periphery of a segmental plate 14 whichis capable of being moved nearer to or farther from the ad acent end ofthe cylinder 6. The means illustrated in the accompanying drawings foreffecting the just-mentioned movement of the plate 14, are already knownand comprlse a screw 15 rigid in the end of the cy linder 6, and havingthreaded on it a nut 16. This nut is formed with a flange 17 having acurved, or partly spherical inner surface seated in a recess in theplate 14: to which latter the nut is permanently retained in swiveledconnection by a keeper plate 18 engaging with the outer surface of theflange, and rigidly attached to the plate 14-. The inner end of the nut16 is free to turn within a hole in the plate 14, this hole beingsufhciently large to admit of the plate rocking or canting on the nut toany such extent as may be rendered necessary by unevenness orinequalities in the ends of the printing plates 4: clamped by the dogs.By rotating the nut 16 on the screw 15 the plate 14 together with therods 8, 9, 10, is moved outward or inward according to the directionsuch rotation, and through this operation the dogs are all causedsimultaneously to release or engage the printing plate. Thebefore-mentioned abutments ll'are each constituted by the inner end of acollar or enlarged cylindrical part of the respective rod 8, 9 or 10,and they are capable of engaging with the dogs 1, 2, 3, irrespective ofangular adjustment of the said rods.

Each of the abutments 12 is constituted by the inner ends of a series ofwings or ribs 19 extending longitudinally of, and distributed around,the respective rod 8, 9 or 10, and these wings, by angular motion of therods, are capable of being brought into and out of alinement withgrooves 20 in the dogs 1, 2, 3. When the wings 19 are alined'with thegrooves 20, the dogs 1, 2, 3, can be slid along the rods over the saidwings, from the inner to the outer side of the latter, and vice versa,and when, after such movement operation, to turn the rods 8, 9, 10, soas to bring their respective wings 19 all simultaneously into or out ofalinement with their respective grooves 20, each of the two rods 8 and10, has fast on its outer end a crank or lever arm 21, and the rod 9 hasfast on its outer end a double crank or two-armed lever 22. All of theparts 21, 22, are preferably situated between the segmental plate der 6,and they are provided with crank pins 23, which engage with the forkedor slotted ends of two levers 2 1, 25. The lever 25 is capable ofturning freely upon a pivot 26 fast to the segmental plate 14:, and thelever 24: is fast to the inner end of a short shaft 27 which extends tothe-outside of that plate, and has there secured upon it, a hand lever28 by which it can be rocked to an extent sufficient for moving thewings 19 into and out of the aforesaid alinement. The two terminalpositions of the hand lever 28 are determined by two stops 29 fast inthe segmental plate 14,, and the hand lever can be locked in either ofsuch terminal positions by a bolt 30 screwing into the seg mental plateand penetrating either of two holes 31 in the hand lever, according to,Whether thewings 19 are to be locked out of alinement with the grooves20 as when the dogs 1, 2, 3, are engaged by the abutment 12, or inalinement with those grooves.

To prevent the dogs 1, 2, 3, from being detached from the rods 8, 9, 10,nuts 32 are threaded and fixed on the inner ends of those rods.

The example illustrated in the accompanying drawings is one whichprovides for the clamping of two different size printing plates varyingto the extent of the width of one column, the dog shown in Fig. 2 beingrepresented as engaging the printing plate havlng the greater number ofcolumns, and

, the dotted line 38 in that figure representing what would be the edgeto be engaged by that dog, of a printing plate having the lesser numberof columns were such plate substituted for the one represented Thedistance between the abutments 11, 12, measured in a direction parallelto the axis of the plate cylinder 6, corresponds or substantiallycorresponds with the width of a column on the rinting plate 4t, and inarrangements adapted to clamp printing plates varying to the extent oftwo or more columns, (as distinguished from the one column in theexample illustrated), each of the rods 8, 9, 10, would be nrovided withtwo ormore sets of the wings or ribs 19, the

r columns.

operative or abutting surfaces of which would be situated in verticalplanes at distances apart corresponding or substantially 7 correspondingwith the widths of the said From the foregoing description, it is clear14 and the adjacent end of the plate cylin-v that when a printing plate4 of the maximum width is clamped to the cylinder 6 (that is to say themaximum dimension in the direction of the axis about which its curve isgenerated) the dogs 1, 2, 3, are engaged by the abutments 11, the wings19 at that time, being locked out of alinement with the grooves 20 bythe bolt 30, all as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

hen it is required to clamp a printing plate of one or more columns lesswidth on the cylinder 6, the bolt 30 is unscrewed and withdrawn from thehand lever 28 and the latter is turned leftward to aline the wings 19with the grooves 20, this movement of the lever 28 being terminated bythe respective stop 29 at the instant at which the said alinement isattained. The dogs 1, 2, 3, are then slid along the rods just beyond theparticular abutments 12 appropriate to the width of plate to be clamped,and after that the hand lever 28 is turned rightward to move the wings19 out of alinement with the grooves 20, and (by the bolt 30) locked inthe position thus arrived at. The printing plate can then be clamped bythe three dogs 1, 2, 3, simultaneously, by turning the nut 16 in thedesired direction.

It is to be understood that the before-dcscribed arrangement ofcooperating cranks and levers is given merely as a convenient example,and that other means may equally well be employed for uniformly turningthe rods 8, 9, 10, for instance, each of these rods may have securedthereon a sprocket wheel gearing with a common longitudinally movableendless chain which can be locked in its respective terminal positionsby any suitable device.

If desired instead of the bolt 30 being separable from the hand lever 28as before described, it can be permanently attached to that lever with acapacity for turning and moving axially therein, and be capable ofengaging with one or other of two tapped holes in the segmental plate14.

Having described our invention, we declare that what we claim and desireto secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a device for clamping printingplates to a cylinder of a printing press, the combination with a rodmovable relatively to the cylinder parallel with the axis thereof, and adog adapted to be moved by that movement of the-rod into and out ofengagement with the printing plates and to be moved independently of therod into and out of engagement with abutments on the rod, of grooves inthe dog, an abutment on the rod adapted to operate the dog for clampingplates of one columnar width, ribs on the rod constituting an abutmentadapted to operate the dog for clamping plates of another columnarwidth, and means adapted to bring the grooves and ribs into and out ofmesses:

alinement to permit or prevent the independent movement of the dog.

2. In a device for clamping printing plates to a cylinder of a printingpress, the combination with a rod movable relatively to the cylinderparallel with the axis thereof, and a dog adapted to be moved by thatmovement of the rod into and out of en gagement with the printing platesand to be moved independently of the rod into and out of engagement withabutments on the rod, of grooves in the dog, an abutment on the rodadapted to operate the dog for clamping plates of one columnar width,ribs on the rod constituting an abutment adapted to operate the dog forclamping plates of another columnar width, and means adapted to move therod angularly about its axis to bring the ribs into and out of alinementwith the grooves.

3. In a device for clamping printing plates to a cylinder of a printingpress, the combination with a rod movable relatively to the cylinderparallel with the axis thereof, and a dog adapted to be moved by thatmovement of the rod into and outof engagement with the printing platesand to be moved independently of the rod into and out of engagement withabutments on the rod, of grooves in the dog, a plurality of. sets ofribs on the rod constituting abutments adapted to operate the dog forclamping plates of respectively different columnar widths, and meansadapted to move the rod angularly about its axis to bring the ribs intoand out of alinement with the grooves.

4C. In a device for clamping printing plates to a cylinder of a printingpress, the combination with a plurality of rods movable relatively tothe cylinder parallel with the axis thereof, and a correspondingplurality of dogs adapted to be moved by such movement of the rods intoand out of engagement with the printing plates and to be movedindependently of the rods into and out of engagementwith abutments onthe rods, of grooves in each dog, an abutment on each rod adapted tooperate the respective dog for clamping plates of one columnar width,ribs on each rod constituting an abutment adapted to operate therespective dog for clamping plates of another columnar width, and meansadapted to simultaneously move all the rods angularly about theirrespective axes to bring the ribs into and out of alinement with thegrooves.

5. In a device for clamping printing plates to a cylinder of a printingpress, the combination with a plurality of rods movable relatively tothe cylinder parallel with the axis thereof, and a correspondingplurality of dogs adapted to be moved by such movement of the rods intoand out of engagement with the printing plates and to be movedindependently of the rods into and out of engagement with abutments onthe rods, of grooves in each dog, a plurality of sets of ribs on eachrod constituting abutplates to a cylinder of a printing press, the

combination with a plurality of rods movable relatively to the cylinderparallel with the axis thereof, and a corresponding plurality of dogsadapted to be moved by such movement of the rods into and out ofengagement with the printing plates and to be moved independently of therods into and out of engagement with abutments on the rods, of groovesin each dog, an abutment on each rod adapted to operate the respectivedog for clamping plates of one columnar width, ribs on each rodconstituting an abutment adapted to operate the respective dog forclamping plates of another columnar width, means adapted tosimultaneously move all the rods angularly about their re spective axesto bring the ribs into and out of alinement with the grooves, and meansadapted to simultaneously move all the rods in a direction parallel withthe axis of the cylinder.

7. In a device for clamping printing plates to a cylinder of a printingpress, the combination with a plurality of rods movable relatively tothe cylinder parallel with the axis thereof, and a correspondingplurality of dogs adapted to be moved by such movement of the rods intoand out of engagement with the printing plates and to be movedindependently of the rods into and out of engagement with abutments onthe rods, of grooves in each dog, a plurality of sets of ribs on eachrod constituting abutments adapted to operate therespective dog forclamping plates of respectively different columnar widths, means adaptedto simultaneously move all the rods angularly about their respectiveaxes to bring the ribs into and out of alinement with the grooves, andmeans adapted to simultaneously move all the rods in a directionparallel with the axis of the cylinder.

8. In a device for clamping printing plates to a cylinder of a printingpress, the combination with a rod movable relatively to the cylinderparallel with the axis thereof, and a dog adapted to be moved by thatmovement of the rod into and out of en- 1 gagement with the printingplates and to be moved independently of the rod into and out ofengagement with abutments on the rod, of grooves in the dog, an abutmenton the rod adapted to operate the dog for clamping plates of onecolumnar width, a plurality of sets of ribs on the rod constitutingabutments adapted to operate the dog for clamping plates of respectivelydifferent columnar widths, and means adapted to move the rod angularlyabout its axis to bring the ribs into and out of alinement with-thegrooves.

9. In a device for clamping printing plates to a cylinder of a printingpress, the combination with a plurality of rods movable relatively tothe cylinder parallel with the axis thereof, and a correspondingplurality of dogs adapted to be moved by such movement of the rods intoand out of engagement With the printing plates and to be movedindependently of the rods into and out of engagement with abutments onthe rods, of grooves in each dog, an abutment on each rod adapted tooperate the respective dog for clamping plates of one columnar width, aplurality of sets of ribs on each rod constituting abutments adapted tooperate the respective dog for clamping plates of respectively differentcolumnar Widths, and

' means adapted to simultaneously move all the rods angularly abouttheir respective axes to bring the ribs into and out of alinement withthe grooves.

10. In a device for clamping printing plates to a cylinder of a printingpress, the combination with a plurality of rods movable, relatively tothe cylinder parallel with the axis thereof, and a correspondingplurality of dogs adapted to be moved by such movement of the rods intoand out of engagement with the printing plates and to be movedindependently of the rods into and out of engagement with abutments onthe rods, of grooves in each dog, an abutment on each rod adapted tooperate the respective dog for clamping plates of one columnar width, apluralityv of sets of ribs on each rod constituting abutments adapted tooperate the respective dog for clamping plates of respectively differentcolumnar widths, means adapted to simultaneously move all the rodsangularly about their respective axes to bring the ribs into and out ofalinement with the grooves, and means adapted to simultaneously move allthe rods in a direction parallel with the axis of thecylinder.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands in the presence of twowitnesses.

THOMAS ROBERT GILLETT PARKER. WALTER LEE.

\Vitnesses:

HAROLD Sonrnwonrrr, JAMES WALKER.

7 Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

